Concerns over the increasing number of unresolved ethical cases involving public officials have triggered fresh demands for the reform of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), as stakeholders in Jos on Wednesday called on the National Assembly to amend its establishing Act.
The recommendation centers on expanding the number of panelists, as the current number is deemed insufficient to handle the growing cases of ethical violations by public officials.
The event, organized by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in partnership with the Code of Conduct Bureau and supported by the EU’s Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption program, highlighted the increasing challenges in enforcing ethical standards among public servants.
Advertisement
Attendees at the workshop emphasized the importance of properly funding the CCT, which is currently underfunded despite its critical role in ensuring public servants adhere to ethical guidelines.
The communique issued after the event also called for faster legislative amendments that would make the declaration of assets and liabilities by public servants more transparent.
Such amendments, they argued, would allow citizens to have direct access to such declarations, thereby enhancing public accountability.
The communique stated: “Since civil society and other stakeholders have agreed to intensify engagement with the Online Assets Declaration System, efforts should include engagement with the Code of Conduct Bureau and MDAs, raising awareness, education, and advocacy for the enhanced declaration of assets and liabilities.”
The communique concluded by urging stakeholders to continue working together to raise public awareness, encourage education on the online assets declaration system, and advocate for a more robust implementation of the system.
